Letter to the Editor: Fall River Town Hall Meeting for Suicide Prevention was a success

Thank you to all those who heeded the call to attend the Fall River Town Hall Meeting for Suicide Prevention held last Saturday morning at Blessed Trinity Parish.

Breakfast for Prevention was a success in bringing together members of the community to learn more about available resources and to discuss what can be done to make more people aware of these resources here in Fall River and Bristol County. A special thank you to state Reps. Carole Fiola and Alan Silvia who participated in the discussions and pledged their support to continue efforts to help “normalize the conversation” around suicide awareness and prevention — with Rep. Silvia on board to continue the discussion at an upcoming Neighborhood Watch meeting.

Thank you to School Committee members Joe Martins and Paul Coogan; Marcia Picard from the Greater Fall River Suicide Prevention Coalition; Saint Anne's Hospital staff; Julie Sanders, Fall River Emergency Services Program; the Bristol County District Attorney’s office; the mayor’s office, and many more. In addition, a huge thank you to the family members who came to learn — loss survivors, attempt survivors and family members emotionally impacted by the suicidal crisis of a loved one, and in some cases, the friends who came to support them.

As it is often said that “it takes a village," I am happy to say that the conversation around suicide prevention resources that was begun at the Town Hall meeting will continue. We are already planning small workshops, training and other events across the life span to not only address prevention, but to also go further upstream in the public health approach to focus on self-care activities that will help those in need improve the quality of life.

Kathryn Nemkovich

Facilitator, Kitchen Table Conversation Loss Survivor Support Program

Member, Bristol County Regional Coalition for Suicide Prevention